The newly appointed director of UW–Madison’s Division of the Arts, Chris Walker, who is also a professor in the School of Education’s Dance Department, was featured in the Capital Times in an article that is headlined, “New Division of the Arts director Chris Walker plans to support art and student activism.”
The article highlights Walker’s vision, including initiatives that he is planning to introduce this fall such the Activism Student Action Program (ASAP) Fund. The fund was created “to allow UW–Madison students to create timely responses to community challenges through the arts,” explains the article, and will provide grant awards to students ranging from $500 to $5,000 for projects or events that center the voices of marginalized communities and explore the intersection between art and activism.
“These funds open up possibilities for students to be immediately creative,” Walker said.
In addition, Walker is planning to reintroduce the International Visiting Artists Program, which will bring artists from all over the globe to campus to share their expertise and facilitate creative opportunities.
“One of the things that we’re doing is decentralizing programming,” Walker said. “We’re looking at deepening our partnerships with departments and units across campus so that these spaces are accessible, diverse points of entry.”
Walker assumed his new position on July 1. “One of the most exciting things about this position is that I will get to connect on a real intimate level with the art-producing units across campus,” Walker told the Cap Times.
He said he is eager to utilize his position to spark new interdisciplinary research and expand access to the arts. His vision is to “open access to the arts for everyone on campus.”
“‘Arts for Everyone Everywhere’ recognizes the power that then gives us artists and art practitioners who believe in the power of art to transform and strengthen and deepen an individual’s experience on campus,” Walker said.
To learn more about Walker and his plans for the Division of the Arts, check out the full article at madison.com.